What's the Difference Between Weather and Climate?
 

[CENTER][COLOR=Purple][SIZE=4][B]What's the Difference Between Weather and Climate?[/B][/SIZE][/COLOR]
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The difference between weather and climate [B]is a measure of time[/B]. [U][B]Weather[/B][/U] is what conditions of the atmosphere are over a short period of time, and [U][B]climate[/B][/U] is how the atmosphere "behaves" over relatively long periods of time.

When we talk about [U][B]climate change[/B][/U], we talk about [I]changes in long-term averages of daily weather[/I]. Today,Children today in most areas of the country haven't experienced those kinds of dreadful snow-packed winters, except for the Northeastern U.S. in January 2005. The change in recent winter snows indicate that the climate has changed since their parents were young.

If summers seem hotter lately, then the recent climate may have changed. In various parts of the world, some people have even noticed that springtime comes earlier now than it did 30 years ago. An earlier springtime is indicative of a possible change in the climate.
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Latest three month average temperature and precipitation anomalies for the United States. Image Credit: NOAA











In addition to long-term climate change, there are shorter term climate variations. This so-called [B]climate variability[/B] can be represented by periodic or intermittent changes related to El Niño, La Niña, volcanic eruptions, or other changes in the Earth system.





[SIZE=4][B] What Weather Means:
[/B][/SIZE]Weather is basically the way the atmosphere is behaving, mainly with respect to its effects upon life and human activities. [B][U]The difference between weather and climate[/U][/B] is that weather consists of the short-term (minutes to months) changes in the atmosphere. Most people think of weather in terms of temperature, humidity, precipitation, cloudiness, brightness, visibility, wind, and atmospheric pressure, as in high and low pressure.

In most places, weather can change from minute-to-minute, hour-to-hour, day-to-day, and season-to-season. C[B]limate, however, is the average of weather over time and space[/B]. An easy way to remember the difference is that climate is what you expect, like a very hot summer, and weather is what you get, like a hot day with pop-up thunderstorms.

[SIZE=4][B] Things That Make Up Our Weather:[/B][/SIZE]
There are really a lot of components to weather. Weather includes:
sunshine,
rain,
cloud cover,
winds,
hail,
snow,
sleet,
freezing rain,
flooding,
blizzards,
ice storms,
thunderstorms,
steady rains from a cold front or warm front,
excessive heat,
heat waves and more.

In order to help people be prepared to face all of these, the [B]National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS),[/B] the lead forecasting outlet for the nation's weather, has over 25 different types of warnings, statements or watches that they issue. Some of the reports NWS issues are: Flash Flood Watches and Warnings, Severe Thunderstorm Watches and Warnings, Blizzard Warnings, Snow Advisories, Winter Storm Watches and Warnings, Dense Fog Advisory, Fire Weather Watch, Tornado Watches and Warnings, Hurricane Watches and Warnings. They also provide Special Weather Statements and Short and Long Term Forecasts.



[SIZE=4][B] What Climate Means:[/B][/SIZE]
In short, [B]climate is the description of the long-term pattern of weather[/B] in a particular area.

Some scientists define climate as the average weather for a particular region and time period, usually taken over 30-years. It's really an average pattern of weather for a particular region.

When scientists talk about climate, they're looking at averages of precipitation, temperature, humidity, sunshine, wind velocity, phenomena such as fog, frost, and hail storms, and other measures of the weather that occur over a long period in a particular place.

For example, after looking at rain gauge data, lake and reservoir levels, and satellite data, scientists can tell if during a summer, an area was drier than average. If it continues to be drier than normal over the course of many summers, than it would likely indicate a change in the climate.

[SIZE=4][B] Why Study Climate?[/B][/SIZE]
The reason studying climate and a changing climate is important, is that will affect people around the world. Rising global temperatures are expected to raise sea levels, and change precipitation and other local climate conditions. Changing regional climate could alter forests, crop yields, and water supplies. It could also affect human health, animals, and many types of ecosystems. Deserts may expand into existing rangelands, and features of some of our National Parks and National Forests may be permanently altered.

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[SIZE=4][B] Who Studies Climate Change?[/B][/SIZE]
Modern climate prediction started back in the late 1700s with Thomas Jefferson and continues to be studied around the world today.

At the national level, the U.S. Global Change Research Program coordinates the world's most extensive research effort on climate change. In addition, NASA, NOAA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other federal agencies are actively engaging the private sector, states, and localities in partnerships based on a win-win philosophy and aimed at addressing the challenge of global warming while, at the same time, strengthening the economy. Many university and private scientists also study climate change.


[B]NASA[/B] has been using satellites to study Earth's changing climate.
NASA satellites keep eyes on the ozone hole, El Nino's warm waters in the eastern Pacific, volcanoes, melting ice sheets and glaciers, changes in global wind and pressure systems and much more.


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